Thirty Two Days to Heaven

How do the lives of a famous American bishop, Fulton J. Sheen, and an unknown Chinese peasant girl intersect? Though the two never met, what the bishop learned of the child's holiness and courage caused him to think of her as his inspiration.The time frame is 1949, right after the Communists took over China. The story unfolds as the Communist soldiers enter the girl's village and begin to disrupt the lives of the people. They make changes that affect and terrify all the villagers and rule by intimidation, fear and manipulation. Lucy is the eleven year old girl, the brave "little lion" who is made to suffer for her goodness. The daughter of the village tailor, she is uncompromising in her love for Jesus. She knows her actions are dangerous, not just for herself, but for her whole family. And yet, she carries on. The valiant character of Father Anthony, the American priest from New Jersey, is revealed, as is that of Sister Elizabeth, the loving young school teacher who is arrested and sent away.The children are re-introduced to their school, with all religious images removed. Instead, there is a giant picture of Mao Tse Tung where the statue of the Blessed Mother used to be. They also have to deal with a nasty, mean-spirited teacher, Dao Ming, who tries to indoctrinate her charges with Communist philosophy. Her games and plays cause Lucy much humiliation and grief.But through all her difficulties Lucy remains firm in her faith and devotion to Jesus. Because of her story, millions of Bishop Sheen's audience and others throughout the world came to know the grace and beauty of time spent with Jesus.